PORTLAND, Ore. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained more than 300 people across Oregon in October, according to figures compiled by the immigrant advocacy group Innovation Law Lab. The detentions, which advocates describe as violent and warrantless, have triggered widespread concern among immigrant rights organizations and community members across the state.
Widespread Detentions and Community Impact
The arrests, tracked through Innovation Law Lab’s Rapid Response Network, represent only the confirmed cases; the actual number of detentions remains uncertain.
“These detentions have been violent, warrantless, and have terrorized our communities and our loved ones,” said Isa Peña, director of strategy for Innovation Law Lab, during a November 5 press conference in Portland. Peña emphasized that the detentions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of aggressive enforcement activity affecting families, workers, and entire neighborhoods.
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Woodburn Arrests and Releases
Among the hundreds detained, four individuals arrested in Woodburn on October 30 have since been released. The arrests occurred during what advocates describe as a surge in enforcement activity targeting farmworkers.
One of those released is a wreath maker who was traveling with other farmworkers when their van was pulled over by ICE agents. Peña said agents smashed the vehicle’s glass and detained everyone inside without presenting a warrant.
“These are real people in Oregon communities—the wreath makers, the blueberry pickers, the health care workers caring for our seniors, the construction workers, the restaurant cooks,” Peña said. “When people are suddenly removed from their families and their communities, Oregon suffers.”
Legal Action and Habeas Corpus Petitions
The Portland-based Innovation Law Lab, a nonprofit that provides legal defense and advocacy for immigrants, has taken legal action in response to the detentions.
Executive Director Stephen Manning said the organization has filed habeas corpus petitions on behalf of six Oregonians detained by ICE in the past week alone, and a total of 13 petitions since June. These filings challenge the legality of the detentions and seek to secure the release of those held without due process.
Manning also accused ICE of denying detainees access to legal representation during the Woodburn arrests. “All 35 Woodburn detainees requested a lawyer, and lawyers were available,” he said. “We know that’s not how the law is supposed to work, and we know ICE is engaged in this denial of access.”
Lawsuit Against Federal Agencies
In response to these alleged violations, Innovation Law Lab has joined Clear Clinic and Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The lawsuit challenges what advocates call a systematic denial of access to counsel during immigration enforcement operations in Oregon.
An evidentiary hearing on the case’s preliminary injunction is scheduled for December. Manning noted that detainees who do manage to obtain legal assistance are often transferred to out-of-state detention centers, making it increasingly difficult to locate and represent them.
“Once the transfers begin, it becomes exceedingly hard to get access for them,” Manning said. “Once they’re in this vast immigration detention system, it becomes so hard to find them.”
ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Statesman Journal.
Surge in Reports and Hotline Activity
Advocates say that ICE activity in Oregon intensified significantly in October. According to the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC), which operates a statewide Rapid Response Hotline (1-888-622-1510), calls reporting ICE or CBP activity skyrocketed from 700 in September to 5,000 in October.
PIRC’s data also shows that enforcement actions began to escalate around October 11, with an increase in detentions and sightings of ICE vehicles across multiple counties. Previously, advocates documented 30 to 40 detentions per month, making October one of the most active enforcement periods in recent memory.
Oregon for All and Community Response
In response to the growing crisis, Oregon for All, a coalition of more than 100 organizations, is coordinating with PIRC and other advocacy groups to protect immigrant communities and provide emergency support to affected families.
The coalition urges residents to report ICE activity through the hotline and has released a community guide on how to safely record enforcement incidents. According to Jessica Montoya, network director of Oregon for All, documenting ICE actions can help “expose abuses and serve as critical evidence” in legal challenges.
Montoya also encouraged donations to the Oregon Worker Relief Fund (available soon at workerrelief.org), which will provide direct financial aid to families impacted by detentions. While the fund is not yet fully operational, advocates are seeking to raise enough money to assist those who have lost income or family members due to enforcement actions.
Fear and Uncertainty in Oregon Communities
The recent wave of detentions has heightened fear and uncertainty among Oregon’s immigrant population, particularly in agricultural regions such as Woodburn and Marion County, where many families rely on seasonal farm work.
Community leaders warn that these operations have a chilling effect, discouraging families from attending work, school, or medical appointments out of fear of arrest. Advocacy organizations have ramped up their outreach, offering “know your rights” workshops and distributing information about legal resources.
Broader Context
The October enforcement surge comes amid ongoing national debates over immigration policy and federal-state cooperation. Oregon, a sanctuary state, has long limited local law enforcement collaboration with ICE. Advocates argue that federal authorities are now using aggressive tactics to bypass those protections.
Immigration lawyers also note that the recent actions appear to be part of a nationwide escalation in detentions, particularly in states with strong sanctuary policies. Oregon’s immigrant community—comprising thousands of farmworkers, laborers, and small business owners—has been disproportionately affected.
Looking Ahead
As the December hearing approaches, immigrant rights groups are preparing to present testimony and evidence alleging that ICE’s Oregon operations violated constitutional protections. Innovation Law Lab and its partners plan to continue filing legal challenges and mobilizing public awareness.
For now, advocates say the priority is ensuring that detainees receive due process and that families have access to legal aid, financial support, and community protection.
“The human cost is enormous,” Peña said. “Every arrest ripples through our neighborhoods—children lose parents, employers lose workers, and communities lose trust. Oregon is stronger when all of its residents are treated with dignity and fairness.”
